Thursday, March 31, 2011

Keeping it Local...


Dear readers, yesterday I was on a mission!

I acquired a used and rather dejected electric spinning wheel that needed parts repaired or replaced. So, living in a smallish regional town, I decided to keep to local shops as much as I could. Essentially I was trying to stay away from the larger one-stop-shop warehouse style stores.

The result? I got everything I needed, which was fantastic. Granted I had to go to eight different stores (including the big impersonal hardware monster store, I'm afraid, but only as last resort!), but it was actually kinda fun. Every person in a local store that I dealt with was extremely helpful. Where they couldn't provide me with a product they knew which other stores in the local area may be able to. The communal spirit was really great to see. But when I went to the big monster store the help I got was from a nice 'rep' from a hardware company that was checking stock in his section. The usual staff member was 'in the middle of something' - no, not helping another customer but doing electronic stock take. I hate to stereotype, but today I really could. The service was crap!!

Despite my successful hunt for parts I managed to misplace a segment of what's called a 'nitty noddy' somewhere on my journey. Luckily I found it outside one of the shops! Completely salvageable! Here's a picture of an electric spinning wheel that looks kind of like mine...


I haven't taken photos of mine as yet. But last night I gave spinning wool on it a go and it wasn't easy to adjust to! No foot brake to start with and the tension vs speed juggling was rather difficult. Will take some getting used to before I consider spinning anything precious on it.

At the end of the day, my goal was to support local business. I'm glad I could, as being in a regional area there are a lot fewer choices for sourcing products or services. So, where you can, support local businesses. It's good for the communal soul.

Hugs
Dayle

3 comments:

  1. Woohoo - the new(ish) electric wheel is up & running & you found the missing niddy noddy bit! Can't wait to see it in person (& maybe have a play?)
    (Have you noticed in the pic you posted it has a woollee winder? Now THAT would have been a score!)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds like a mission!

    ReplyDelete
  3. WOW! this looks so much nicer than my second hand electric wheel. And I love your attitude about keeping the restoration local, very hard to do in the outer burbs.
    And I also find spinning on an electric wheel difficult, so I just use it for plying. The only issue is mine has rather small bobbins. Your's doesn't seem to have that problem.

    ReplyDelete

Please leave your comments here...